This is a follow up to yesterday’s remarks about ‘common sense’—because the enemy of ‘common sense’ is ‘ideology.’
The Oxford Companion to Philosophy that I quoted yesterday has this to say about ‘ideology’—namely that it means ‘beliefs and values held by an individual or group for other than epistemic reasons.’
And that (perhaps unfamiliar) word ‘epistemic’ just means ‘knowledge.’
In other words, ‘ideology’ is not based on testable knowledge, it is just adopted in the absence of knowledge.
In fact, people seem to hold to an ‘ideology’ out of interest, not evidence.
Here’s the key: common sense means trying to conform thinking to reality (how things are); ‘ideology’ means trying make reality (how things are) conform to ideas.
The Communist ideology employed by the old Soviet Empire was a massive failure—communist politics enslaved people and communist economics impoverished people: because it was an ‘ideology’ that was at odds with reality (with how things are).
Today we see the ‘climate ideology’ based on just two propositions: (a) climate change will be catastrophic for the human race, and (b) climate change can be stopped by politicians.
Both those propositions are highly dubious.
But those who believe in that ideology try to make the world conform to it by spending massive amounts of money in pursuit of their (highly doubtful) dream.
The Albanese government is based on a socialist ideology which sees government as responsible for every as aspect of human life—hence, the economy, the nation, and the lives of individuals should submit to bureaucratic control from Canberra.
Absurdity on the same scale can be seen when you thoughtfully examine any ideology.
That is why we put this simple ethical proposition: common sense good, ideology bad.
Knowing that can save us from a world of confusion and nonsense.
And if our politicians understood that it would save us all from a world of pain.
Tonight I will join John Stanley for 'The Word Clinic' on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC, 2LT and the Tapt Radio Network -- right after the 10pm news.
My latest column at News24 Online (formerly Sky News Online) is about Pauline Hanson -- have a look and let me know if you agree with my analysis -- here's the link: 'The People vs The Authority': The two-word label that aptly describes Pauline Hanson’s biggest enemy in Canberra as her polling surge reshapes the political landscape | News24
TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER SCROLL FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE >>>>>>
BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
